Creating a healthy home.
My goal when renovating homes is to approach the design with both your health and the health of the planet in mind, while at the same time creating a luxurious space that you love to spend time in and that ‘feels like home’.
There is always a balance that needs to occur in any home to achieve the goal you are after - and it’s okay if you’re not perfect!
We live in a modern world, and there will be elements that are a ‘must have’ in your home or that you ‘can’t live without’. In my household, my husband would say this is air-conditioning. I’m yet to convince him we can cool the house via other methods!
I like to consider four key elements of a home as a starting point. These are air, light, water, and comfort. I then add a few layers to these elements by considering materials, sustainability, energy efficiency, construction methods, and functionality within a household.
The elements.
Air.
Did you know that air quality inside the home can be up to 5x more polluted than the air outdoors? Crazy isn’t it?!
Understanding the quality of air in your home and outside your home for me is a must.
I personally use a Mila air filter and have one in my living area and one in the master bedroom which cleans my air and reports back to me on the key metrics of CO2, CO, humidity, temperature, VOC’s and particle matter (PM) all via a handy app.
CO2 levels can rise in a home from gas appliances or a poor HVAC (heating, ventilation, and cooling system). To keep levels to an optimal level it’s important to have air circulation. If your home doesn’t have great circulation, make sure you open your windows a few times a day.
While humidity is great in the tropics, you don’t want high levels in your home as it promotes the growth and spread of mould, mildew, fungi, bacteria, and viruses. As a result, it aggravates asthma and allergies. A comfortable level of humidity for a home is 45-55%.
VOCs are volatile organic compounds or you may have heard this described as off-gassing. Common things that can affect the level of VOCs in your home include cleaning products, paint, varnishes, or even a new sofa. These can cause headaches, nausea, or even damage to the lungs, liver, or kidneys if found at high concentrations.
Lastly, particle matter can enter your home from fuel-burning sources such as car exhaust, power plants, industrial facilities, or everyday sources such as cooking, burning candles, or your fireplace.
Light.
How natural light is used in your home is one of the most critical factors to a comfortable home.
Utilising natural light efficiently in building design will not only reduce your energy bills by reducing artificial lighting requirements but will help create an environment that has been shown to have significant health and wellness benefits.
The goal is to collect enough daylight in the summer to turn off electric lights and collect as much as possible in the winter to help heat the home.
To maximise your results, it’s important to understand the orientation of your block/home. In the southern hemisphere, using the north-facing natural light to your advantage is key as the sunlight is consistent through the day and year. Whereas sunlight that comes from the east and west is harsh - only occurring during half the day, with the height of the sun changing throughout the year, make sunlight harder to control.
Other passive strategies for lighting include how you use exterior glazings such as windows and skylights; use of mirrors and other reflective surfaces to collect and direct light to key areas in the room; use of external shading systems to protect windows and other transparent openings; and even the paint choices you make - with light, reflective paint helping light to bounce around the room making it feel brighter.
Water.
There are a number of elements to consider when thinking about water and the home.
The first is to ensure your home is watertight so that water can’t get in. Just as important is the ability for your home to expel water if it does get inside as you don’t want to grow mould and create a damp environment.
Did you know that hanging wet clothes inside to dry can increase the moisture in the room by nearly 30% which in turn encourages the mould growth?!
Water vapour generated by household activities (e.g. clothes drying, cooking, washing, showering) should be removed at the source by externally vented, self-closing extractor fans to reduce the risk of mould, mildew and decay caused by increased condensation.
The second area is how energy efficient you are in the use of water. Areas to look at include water-efficient appliances (e.g. washing machines and dishwashers) and fixtures (e.g. shower heads, taps and toilets). The average household in Australia could save $175 per year by using more water-efficient products.
Did you know that every time you flush the toilet it uses 4 litres of water?!
One system that can be looked at is using greywater for your toilets. A greywater system enables you to store water that would otherwise be lost down the drain so that it can be re-used for other purposes. Water that may not be safe to drink (e.g. from showers, baths, washing machines, kitchen sink), can be used on things like the watering the garden or flushing the toilet.
Comfort.
We all want to be comfortable in our homes.
One element that helps us feel comfortable is the temperature. For example, the optimal temperature for sleeping is between 18-21°C. If your room is too hot or too cold this can impact your sleep - in particular, REM (rapid eye movement) sleep. Temperatures over 24°C are likely to cause frustration and restlessness, while a slightly cooler room will make it harder to doze off. A cooler bedroom is also ideal for increasing our metabolism, regulating our natural melatonin levels, and alleviating insomnia. As sleep is a time for the body to heal, renew and detox our skin, getting this right when you renovate your home is important.
So what can impact the temperature of your home?
Did you know that windows are where up to 40% of a home’s heat can be lost, and up to 87% of its’ heat gain occurs? Other elements to consider are heating/cooling solutions; airflow; materials utilised; orientation; and how you use natural light. As you can see the elements of air, light, and water all start to connect to one another to create a comfortable home.